[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 91 (Friday, July 14, 2000)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D746-D749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                              Friday, July 14, 2000

[[Page D746]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed Death Tax Elimination Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S6767-S6989
Measures Introduced: Eight bills and one resolution were introduced, as 
follows: S. 2870-2877, and S. Res. 336.
  Page S6841
Measures Reported: Reports were made as follows:
  S. 2420, to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the 
establishment of a program under which long-term care insurance is made 
available to Federal employees, members of the uniformed services, and 
civilian and military retirees, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. (S. Rept. No. 106-344)
Page S6841
Measures Passed:
  Death Tax Elimination Act: By 59 yeas to 39 nays (Vote No. 197), 
Senate passed H.R. 8, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 
phase out the estate and gift taxes over a 10-year period, after taking 
action on the following amendments proposed thereto:
  Pages S6767-81
Adopted:
  Roth Amendment No. 3841, to provide for pension reform by creating 
tax incentives for savings.
Pages S6768-69
  By 53 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. 196), Roth (for Lott) motion to 
commit to Committee on Finance with instructions to report back 
forthwith.
Pages S6768, S6770
Rejected:
  By 45 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 189), Kerry Amendment No. 3839, to 
establish a National Housing Trust Fund in the Treasury of the United 
States to provide for the development of decent, safe, and affordable 
housing for low-income families.
Pages S6767-68
  By 42 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 192), Harkin Amendment No. 3840, to 
protect and provide resources for the Social Security System, to amend 
title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the ``motherhood 
penalty'', increase the widow's and widower's benefit and to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the unified credit exemption 
and the qualified family-owned business interest deduction. 
                                                         Pages S6768-69
  By 46 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 193), Bayh Amendment No. 3843, to 
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the unified credit 
exemption and the qualified family-owned business interest deduction 
and provide a long-term care credit.
Pages S6768-69
  By 44 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 195), Feingold Amendment No. 3844, to 
preserve budget surplus funds so that they might be available to extend 
the life of Social Security and Medicare.
Pages S6768, S6770
  During consideration of this measure today, the Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 57 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. 190), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected a motion to waive certain provisions of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 with respect to the consideration of Santorum 
Amendment No. 3838, to provide for the designation of renewal 
communities and to provide tax incentives relating to such communities, 
to provide a tax credit to taxpayers investing in entities seeking to 
provide capital to create new markets in low-income communities, and to 
provide for the establishment of Individual Development Accounts. 
Subsequently, a point of order that the amendment was in violation of 
section 311(a)(2)(b) of the Congressional Budget Act was sustained, and 
the amendment thus fell.
Page S6768
  By 41 yeas to 56 nays (Vote No. 191), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected a motion to waive certain provisions of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 with respect to the consideration of Dodd Amendment 
No. 3837, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the 
unified credit exemption and the qualified family-owned business

[[Page D747]]

interest deduction, to increase, expand, and simplify the child and 
dependent care tax credit, to expand the adoption credit for special 
needs children, to provide incentives for employer-provided child care. 
Subsequently, a point of order that the amendment was in violation of 
section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act was sustained, and the 
amendment thus fell.
Pages S6768-69
  By 14 yeas to 84 nays (Vote No. 194), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected a motion to waive certain provisions of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 with respect to the consideration of Gramm (for 
Lott) Amendment No. 3842, to provide tax relief by providing 
modifications to education individual retirement accounts. 
Subsequently, a point of order that the amendment was in violation of 
section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act was sustained, and the 
amendment thus fell.
Pages S6768-70
  Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act: Senate passed H.R. 4391, to 
amend title 4 of the United States Code to establish sourcing 
requirements for State and local taxation of mobile telecommunication 
services, clearing the measure for the President.
  Pages S6812-13
  Radiation Exposure: Senate agreed to S. Res. 336, expressing the 
sense of the Senate regarding the contributions, sacrifices, and 
distinguished service of Americans exposed to radiation or radioactive 
materials as a result of service in the Armed Forces.
  Pages S6982-83
Marriage Tax Penalty Relief Reconciliation Act: Senate began 
consideration of H.R. 4810, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to 
section 103(a)(1) of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal 
year 2001, striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu 
thereof the text of S. 2839, Senate companion measure, as an amendment, 
which was subsequently agreed to, and taking action on the following 
amendments proposed thereto:
  Pages S6781-S6812, S6813-28
Withdrawn:
  Reid (for Lautenberg) Amendment No. 3858, to amend the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit to holders of qualified bonds 
issued by Amtrak.
Pages S6798, S6812
Pending:
  Roth point of order against section 4 of the bill that it violates 
section 313 of the Congressional Budget Act.
Page S6784
  Roth motion to waive all points of order under the budget process, 
arising from the earned-income credit component.
Page S6784
  Feingold motion to commit the bill to the Committee on Finance with 
instructions that the Committee report it back along with legislation 
that would substantially extend the solvency of Social Security and 
Medicare.
Pages S6784-85
  Feingold Amendment No. 3845, to strike the adjustment to the rate 
brackets and to further adjust the standard deduction.
Pages S6785-88
  Feingold Amendment No. 3846, to provide a nonrefundable credit 
against tax for costs of COBRA continuation insurance and allow 
extended COBRA coverage for qualified retirees.
Pages S6788-89
  Harkin Amendment No. 3847, to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 
1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in 
the payment of wages on the basis of sex.
Pages S6789-90
  Kennedy Amendment No. 3848, to amend title XIX and XXI of the Social 
Security Act to permit States to expand coverage under the Medicaid 
program and SCHIP to parents of enrolled children.
Pages S6790-92
  Brownback Modified Amendment No. 3849, to provide tax relief for 
farmers.
Pages S6795, S6823-25
  Reid (for Durbin) Amendment No. 3850, to amend the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 to increase the deduction for health insurance costs of 
self-employed individuals.
Page S6795
  Roth (for Bond) Amendment No. 3851, to amend the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for 100 percent of the health 
insurance costs of self-employed individuals.
Page S6795
  Reid (for Durbin) Modified Amendment No. 3852, to amend the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small business employers a credit against 
income tax for employee health insurance expenses paid or incurred by 
the employer.
Pages S6795-96, S6811-12
  Reid (for Robb) Amendment No. 3853, to make the bill effective upon 
enactment of a Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Pages S6796-97
  Reid (for Torricelli) Amendment No. 3854, to ensure that children 
enrolled in the Medicaid program at highest risk for lead poisoning are 
identified and treated.
Page S6797
  Reid (for Torricelli) Amendment No. 3855, to amend the Social 
Security Act to waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage 
of individuals disabled with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 
                                                             Page S6797
  Reid (for Torricelli) Amendment No. 3856, to amend the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 to lower the adjusted gross income threshold for 
deductible disaster casualty losses to 5 percent, to make such 
deduction an above-the-line deduction, to allow an election to take 
such deduction for the preceding or succeeding year, and to eliminate 
the marriage penalty for individuals suffering casualty losses. 
                                                         Pages S6797-98

[[Page D748]]


  Reid (for Torricelli) Amendment No. 3857, to amend the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate the marriage penalty for individuals 
suffering casualty losses.
                                                             Page S6798
  Reid (for Cleland) Amendment No. 3859, to amend the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 to exclude United States savings bond income from gross 
income if used to pay long-term care expenses.
                                                         Pages S6798-99
  Reid (for Cleland) Amendment No. 3860, to amend the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 to expand the enhanced deduction for corporate donations 
of computer technology to public libraries and community centers. 
                                                             Page S6799
  Roth (for Grams) Amendment No. 3861, to repeal the increase in tax on 
Social Security benefits.
                                                      Pages S6799-S6800
  Roth (for Abraham) Modified Amendment No. 3862, to express the sense 
of the Senate regarding the need to repeal the marriage tax penalty and 
improve coverage of prescription drugs under the Medicare program this 
year.
                                                     Pages S6800, S6808
  Moynihan Amendment No. 3863, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                         Pages S6800-04
  Roth Amendment No. 3864, to strike sunset provision.
                                                             Page S6804
  Roth Amendment No. 3865 (to Amendment No. 3863), to strike sunset 
provision.
                                                             Page S6804
  Roth motion to waive any point of order made against Amendments 
numbered 3864 and 3865 (to Amendment No. 3863).
                                                             Page S6804
  Reid Amendment No. 3866 (to Amendment No. 3861), to express the sense 
of the Senate that the general fund transfer mechanism included in the 
Grams Social Security amendment should be used to extend the life of 
the Medicare trust fund through 2030, to ensure that Medicare remains a 
strong health insurance program for our nation's seniors and that its 
payments to health providers remain adequate.
                                                             Page S6804
  Roth (for Grams) Amendment No. 3867 (to Amendment No. 3861), to 
repeal the increase in tax on Social Security benefits.
                                                             Page S6804
  Roth (for Stevens) Amendment No. 3868, to amend the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 to maintain exemption of Alaska from dyeing requirements 
for exempt diesel fuel and kerosene.
                                                             Page S6805
  Roth (for Stevens) Amendment No. 3869, to amend section 415 of the 
Internal Revenue Code.
                                                             Page S6805
  Roth (for Stevens) Amendment No. 3870, to amend the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 to provide a charitable deduction for certain expenses 
incurred in support of Native Alaskan subsistence whaling.
                                                             Page S6805
  Roth (for Stevens) Amendment No. 3871, to amend the Internal Revenue 
Code to provide for equitable treatment of trusts created to preserve 
the benefits of Alaska Native Settlement Act.
                                                         Pages S6805-06
  Roth (for Stevens) Amendment No. 3872, to clarify the tax treatment 
of passengers filling empty seats on noncommercial airplanes. 
                                                             Page S6806
  Roth (for Stevens) Amendment No. 3873, to amend title 26 of the 
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1986 to allow income averaging for fishermen 
without negative Alternative Minimum Tax treatment, for the creation of 
risk management accounts for fishermen.
                                                         Pages S6806-08
  Burns Amendment No. 3874, to repeal of the modification of the 
installment method.
                                                             Page S6811
  Reid (for Hollings) Amendment No. 3875, to pay down the debt by 
striking the tax cuts.
                                                             Page S6812
  Reid (for Dodd) Amendment No. 3876, to amend the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 to increase the unified credit exemption and the qualified 
family-owned business interest deduction, to increase, expand, and 
simplify the child and dependent care tax credit, to expand the 
adoption credit for special needs children, to provide incentives for 
employer-provided child care.
                                                             Page S6812
  Dorgan Amendment No. 3877, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
to treat payments under the Conservation Reserve Program as rentals 
from real estate, expand the applicability of section 179 expensing, 
provide an exclusion for gain from the sale of farmland, and allow a 
deduction for 100 percent of the health insurance costs of self-
employed individuals.
                                                         Pages S6815-16
  Reid (for Wellstone) No. 3879, to express the sense of the Senate 
regarding the restoration of reductions in payments under the Medicare 
program caused by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
                                                         Pages S6816-17
  Reid (for Wellstone) No. 3880, to express the sense of the Senate 
regarding the restoration of reductions in payments under the Medicare 
program caused by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
                                                         Pages S6816-17
  Nickles (for Lott) Amendment No. 3881, to provide a substitute. 
                                                         Pages S6821-22
  Nickles (for Lott) Amendment No. 3882, to provide a substitute. 
                                                         Pages S6822-23
Legislative Branch Appropriations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing for consideration of H.R. 4516, making 
appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2001, and certain amendments to be proposed thereto. 
Further, that the bill be read a third time and passed, the Senate 
insist on its amendments, request a conference with the House

[[Page D749]]

thereon, and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part 
of the Senate.
  Page S6812
Communications:
  Pages S6839-41
Statements on Introduced Bills:
  Pages S6841-46
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S6846-47
Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S6847-70
Notices of Hearings:
  Pages S6870-71
Authority for Committees:
  Page S6871
Additional Statements:
  Pages S6838-39
Enrolled Bills Presented:
  Page S6839
Privileges of the Floor:
  Page S6871
Record Votes: Nine record votes were taken today. (Total--197) 
                                                  Pages S6768-70, S6781
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:01 a.m., and adjourned at 4:19 p.m., 
until 12 noon on Monday, July 17, 2000. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S6983.)